Donald Trump rebuffs conservative group by dropping out of a major right-wing conference

Conservatives are up in arms after GOP presidential frontrunner
Donald Trump decided to drop out of the prominent Conservative
Political Action Conference in Maryland.

He did so less than 24 hours before he was
scheduled to speak; his address was scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
Saturday.

"Very disappointed [Trump] has decided at the last minute to drop out of
#CPAC -- his choice sends a clear message to conservatives,"
the
event's Twitter account posted shortly after Trump's midday
announcement.

Trump's campaign released a statement that said
because the candidate was speaking Saturday in Wichita, Kansas,
for a "major rally" before the state's caucuses, Trump would not
be able to speak at the event.

"Mr. Trump would like to thank [American
Conservative Union Chairman] Matt Schlapp and all of the
executives at CPAC and looks forward to returning to next year,
hopefully as President of the United States," the Trump statement
read.

Trump has spoken at the event for each of the
past three years.

His competitors, Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida
and Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as Gov. John Kasich of Ohio,
are all slated to give addresses at the event.